Can tuberculosis affect female fertility? Well, the answer to this is YES!! Tuberculosis has the efficiency of severely damaging the fallopian tubes. It can be more serious if left untreated so diagnosing and treating at the initial stage can be helpful for a woman.
Tuberculosis is bacterial and causes lung infection, but it can also lead to spreading and causing secondary infections. These secondary infections can reach the genital parts of a woman like fallopian tubes which as a result decrease the probability of conceiving, according to the health professionals ahead of World Tuberculosis Day.According to research, it is found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria or Mtb is the infectious killer across the globe and is taking more than 4,000 lives per day.
Tuberculosis affecting female fertility
The bacterium leads to attacking the uterus and causes uterine tuberculosis which is also known as pelvic TB. This condition mainly affects the female when she is trying to conceive and is often diagnosed when there is a checkup for infertility.Females are identified to be more affected than men and because of uterine tuberculosis, it is surveyed that around two out of ten women have to face the problem of infertility. In major cases, it is also seen that the uterine lining becomes thin which doesn’t have the ability of implantation and hence results in miscarriage.Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria is transferred by blood to other parts which also incorporates the reproductive organ and causes fallopian tube infection.
So, what are the signs?
The signs of TB in the uterus are
- Pelvic pain
- Regular discharge
- Irregular periods
- Abdominal swelling,
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
Tuberculosis diagnosis
Genital TB is difficult to diagnose as it is known as the silent attacker of the urinary tract. The thought for TB arises when an infertile female provides the history of TB. There are several tests doctor will recommend for the diagnosis of genital TB in a female and they are:
- Tuberculin test
- Chest radiographs
- Histologic evaluation
- Menstrual blood for culture
- Hysterosalpingography
- Ultrasonography
- Endoscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Hysteroscopy
Testing to diagnose infertility
TThere are other tests also that assists in diagnosing female infertility due to genital TB which are:
- Histopath evaluation
- TB culture
- Polymerase chain reaction mycosure- TB PCR test
- Gene Xpert
Treatment for genital TB
Once the diagnosis is finished, it is crucial to take prompt action for killing the bacteria and restoring the damaged reproductive system functionality so that infertility is tackled. The problem can be handled by completing the course of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Other than this, there is lymphocyte immune therapy which is a sort of antibacterial treatment. It is supervised by the doctor for around six eight months. There is restorative surgery as well for certain cases as TB can damage the reproductive organ. With this surgery, it becomes easier to restore the reproductive organ so that conception is possible.
Final words
Genital TB is the extrapulmonary TB or EPTB common form across the world accounting for around 9% of the cases. Although, the problem is underestimated in women as they are asymptomatic and mostly only diagnosed during the assessment for infertility. It is essential to comprehend that the probability of pregnancy in females suffering from genital TB is not good even after the treatment is completed. So, in that case, reproductive technology known as IVF (In vitro fertilization) can be helpful. IVF is a blessing for such females as they can still enjoy the dream of parenthood with this treatment. You can get in touch with Crysta IVF as we have the best treatments to handle problems of infertility and we have got a team of infertility specialists who will ensure going the extra mile and will ensure the journey is smooth for you.
